Laramie, WY – US Senators are considering forming a congressional commission to look for a solution to skyrocketing violent crime on American Indian reservations. Senator Byron Dorgan of North Dakota chairs the Indian Affairs Committee. He called the increase in rapes, murders, gang shootings and brazen crimes on reservations in recent years "unbelievable" and said it is the responsibility of Congress to fix it.

By Kristin Espeland

Laramie, WY – Governor Freudenthal has selected John Barrasso to be Wyoming's next senator. He was appointed today (Friday) to fill the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the death of Craig Thomas earlier this month. Barrasso says he'll use his new job as a U.S. Senator to promote issues that are close to the hearts of Wyoming residents. The surgeon and former state senator from Casper says he'll work to make sure public lands are open to multiple use, while also working to protect the environment.

Laramie, WY – A three-million-dollar grant to help the city of Riverton build a center for building and servicing oil rigs was one of ten grants approved today by the State Lands and Investment Board. In all, the board approved more than 16 million dollars in grants under the Business Ready Communities program. The largest grants went to Riverton and to Albany County, where officials want to purchase a building that would allow an existing company to expand its operations. Both grants were for three million dollars.

By Elsa Heidorn

Laramie, WY – The head of the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad says he expects construction on 200 miles of new rail line to begin next year -- if not sooner. Although the company has been rejected for a two-point-three billion dollar federal loan, Chief Executive Officer Kevin Schieffer says private investors are interested in DM&E's plans to extend tracks into Wyoming and ship coal eastward. The railroad boss has little to say about a recent report that other railroads are interested in the DM&E.

By Kristin Espeland

By AP

By Peter O'Dowd

By AP